Indonesia
Bali
Indonesia's island hub — beach towns, volcanoes, and a visa rulebook that changes often
Family budget at a glance
The all-in range matches the FAQ answer for "How much does a family typically need per month here?" The other cards are single-line benchmarks — they don't add up to that total (school fees and other costs are separate).
All-in / month (family of 4)
~$4,000–$6,500 / month
3-bed family home
~$2,200 / month
Dinner for 2 (mid-range)
~$35
Nanny
~$7 / hr
Bali is an island province, not a single city — most families settle in the southern beach belt (Canggu, Seminyak, Sanur), the Ubud hills, or quieter east-coast pockets. Trade-offs are wet-season flooding in some lanes, motorbike traffic, international-school capacity in the south, and immigration rules that change often. This guide uses the name travellers search; area picks below spell out where on the island families actually live.
For the inland Gianyar town of Ubud — rice terraces, cooler nights, and hill traffic — see the Ubud guide →
Action checklist
Concrete steps to make this move happen, in order.
Click any step to jump to that section ↓
- 1Confirm your Indonesia visa or KITAS category on imigrasi.go.id before you fly — rules change with little warning
- 2Pick a base (south coast vs Ubud hills) before housing — school runs and flooding risk differ
- 3Email international schools 9–12 months ahead — southern campuses fill first
- 4Book private hospital cover or travel insurance that includes medical evacuation
- 5After you move, complete any reporting or extension your permit requires — dates are on your passport stamp or e-ITAS
- 6Arrange a car with driver or long-term lease — there is no useful island-wide public transit
- 7Open a Indonesian bank account once you have KITAS paperwork and a lease — payroll and school fees are easier
Family fit
Great for
- Families wanting tropical outdoor life with strong expat networks in the south
- Remote workers who can tolerate visa-agent rhythms
- Parents happy to drive or hire drivers for school
- Households exploring bilingual or international tracks
Watch out for
- Narrow roads and scooter traffic — helmets and car seats matter
- Wet-season floods in low lanes — visit properties after heavy rain if you can
- School seats lag demand — confirm before you pay a villa deposit
- Permit paperwork rewards patience — keep scans of every stamp
Climate & seasons
Monthly normals (2001–2020) · MERRA-2 (NASA POWER)
Rainy-day counts are approximate (from monthly rainfall).
- HottestNov · 31.9°Cmean daily high
- CoolestAug · 20°Cmean daily low
- WettestJan · 316.5 mmmonth total
- DriestAug · 23.9 mmmonth total
- Low
- 22.9°C
- Rain
- 316.5 mm
- Wet days
- ~26
- Low
- 23°C
- Rain
- 249.5 mm
- Wet days
- ~21
- Low
- 22.9°C
- Rain
- 201.2 mm
- Wet days
- ~17
- Low
- 23°C
- Rain
- 123 mm
- Wet days
- ~10
- Low
- 22.1°C
- Rain
- 81.8 mm
- Wet days
- ~7
- Low
- 21.2°C
- Rain
- 53.4 mm
- Wet days
- ~4
- Low
- 20.2°C
- Rain
- 39.7 mm
- Wet days
- ~3
- Low
- 20°C
- Rain
- 23.9 mm
- Wet days
- ~2
- Low
- 20.7°C
- Rain
- 37.8 mm
- Wet days
- ~3
- Low
- 21.9°C
- Rain
- 57 mm
- Wet days
- ~5
- Low
- 22.9°C
- Rain
- 134.1 mm
- Wet days
- ~11
- Low
- 23°C
- Rain
- 271.6 mm
- Wet days
- ~23
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Rain (total) | Rainy days (~) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30.1°C | 22.9°C | 316.5 mm | 26 |
| Feb | 30°C | 23°C | 249.5 mm | 21 |
| Mar | 30°C | 22.9°C | 201.2 mm | 17 |
| Apr | 29.8°C | 23°C | 123 mm | 10 |
| May | 29.1°C | 22.1°C | 81.8 mm | 7 |
| Jun | 28.4°C | 21.2°C | 53.4 mm | 4 |
| Jul | 27.9°C | 20.2°C | 39.7 mm | 3 |
| Aug | 28.3°C | 20°C | 23.9 mm | 2 |
| Sep | 29.8°C | 20.7°C | 37.8 mm | 3 |
| Oct | 31.4°C | 21.9°C | 57 mm | 5 |
| Nov | 31.9°C | 22.9°C | 134.1 mm | 11 |
| Dec | 30.9°C | 23°C | 271.6 mm | 23 |
Family notes
- Warmest month on average: Nov (mean daily high ~32°C); coolest: Aug (mean daily low ~20°C).
- Most rainfall on average: Jan (~316 mm total); driest: Aug (~24 mm).
- Very wet months mean waterproofs, covered waiting at school pickup, and extra room to dry uniforms and shoes.
These values are long-term monthly climatologies from NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) for the nearest model grid cell to these coordinates — not a single city-centre weather station. Spatial resolution is about 50 km; coastal belts, hills, and dense urban cores can differ. Precipitation is corrected MERRA-2 rainfall; rainy-day counts are approximated from monthly totals.
Grid cell used: -8.333°, 115.000° (WGS84)
Visa options
Reviewed Apr 2026
Reviewed Apr 2026
Indonesia updates entry rules often. Short trips usually rely on visa-free entry, VoA (Visa on Arrival — paid stamp at the airport for many nationalities), or an offshore visit visa (categories such as B211A). School-year families normally need a limited stay permit (KITAS/ITAS — sponsored temporary residence, often called KITAS in conversation). Confirm the live nationality chart on imigrasi.go.id before every trip.
Tap the ? next to a term for a quick definition.
Short visit — visa-free, VoA, or offshore visitor visa
Enough for holidays and house-hunting — not a substitute for a limited stay permit if children need full-time school.
Limited stay permit (KITAS / work / family / investor)
Employer, dependent, retirement-style, or investment-linked routes — expect notaris, photos, and repeat visits to Denpasar or airport immigration offices.
Holiday / scouting — how long you can stay
- Search 'Indonesia visa nationality list imigrasi' on Google and open the official Directorate General of Immigration page — lengths differ by passport.
- Carry onward tickets and accommodation proof if immigration asks.
- Track each child's stamp separately — schools may ask for aligned permits before enrolment.
- Working remotely without the correct permit is risky — align status with a lawyer if you earn Indonesia-sourced income.
Living in Bali a year or more
- Schools and banks photocopy this permit — keep colour scans.
- Search 'limited stay permit Indonesia family dependent imigrasi' on Google for the current document matrix.
- Domestic moves (e.g. Ubud to Canggu) may require notifying immigration — ask your sponsor before subletting.
- Extensions and reporting rules change — calendar the dates on your card, not forum advice from last year.
Write down every traveller's admitted-until date at the airport — Indonesian overstay fines are strict. Use an agent only after you have read the same checklist on an official site.
Immigration reporting & address
Reviewed Apr 2026
Reviewed Apr 2026
- Carry passport, permit card, and rental agreement to immigration appointments — Denpasar and airport offices handle many Bali cases.
- Some long-stay categories require periodic reporting or extensions — your agent or HR should give a calendar tied to the dates printed on your card.
- Overstay fines are strict — set calendar alerts before every family member's admitted-until date.
- Schools and banks photocopy permits — keep colour scans in cloud storage.
- Domestic address changes may need notifying immigration — ask your sponsor before you sublet.
Indonesia uses its own permits and reporting — follow only the dates and instructions on your passport stamp, e-ITAS, or KITAS paperwork (and guidance from your sponsor or agent).
Banking
- KITAS holders get broader access than tourists — plan account opening after permits land.
- Wise and Revolut help before local accounts are ready.
- Landlords may take USD for short villa leases but IDR dominates daily life.
- Tax numbers (NPWP) matter for some employers — HR usually guides you.
- ATM skimming happens — use bank lobby machines when possible
Permata, BCA, and Mandiri branches exist in the south — call ahead for English-speaking relationship managers.
Housing
Sanur and Nusa Dua skew family-friendly flats; Canggu and Berawa trade buzz for traffic; Ubud offers cooler nights but longer drives to southern schools.
Where to search
Rumah123 and Lamudi list many long-term villas — search “Bali” then narrow by regency (Badung, Gianyar).
Tip: use Google site search for owner posts (e.g. `site:facebook.com Bali long term villa`) if you want leads beyond portals — still verify ID before wiring deposits.
Facebook groups remain active — pair with an in-person viewing trip when possible.
Typical monthly rents
- 2-bed villa, Canggu: ~$1,200–$2,200/month
- 3-bed villa, Sanur: ~$1,400–$2,800/month
- 4-bed pool villa, Berawa: ~$2,200–$4,500/month
- Ubud compound, 3-bed: ~$900–$1,800/month
Best areas for families
What you need to rent
- Valid passport and current visa stamp
- 1–2 months deposit (standard; typically 2 months' rent)
- First month rent in advance
- Indonesian bank account is expected for monthly rent payments by most landlords after the first month
Schools
English-medium international schools cluster around Denpasar, Sanur, and Canggu; Ubud has smaller programmes — expect drives if you live inland.
Public system
Indonesian national schools teach in Bahasa Indonesia — realistic only with strong language support or very young starters.
International options
British, IB, and Australian-leaning private schools serve expats — fees vary widely; waiting lists spike before northern hemisphere autumn.
Language notes
Bahasa Indonesia helps for local paperwork; English works in expat retail and clinics.
If you settle in Ubud, model daily drives to southern campuses before you sign a lease.
Education options
International private schools (south)
Largest cohorts near the airport corridor — confirm bus routes.
Smaller progressive or Montessori programmes
Scattered — great fit for some families, limited secondary pathways.
Childcare
Nurseries and nannies concentrate in Canggu, Sanur, and Seminyak — inland pockets rely more on referrals.
Daycare & nurseries
- International preschools often $350–$800/month depending on hours
- Local playgroups teach Bahasa — good for toddlers if you have a translator
- Holiday camps appear in July–August — book before tourist peaks
Nanny & au pair
- Live-in help is common — use contracts and references
- Agency placements exist but parent WhatsApp groups are faster vetted
- Night nurses for newborns are available in the south
Where to find childcare
- Search 'Bali parent groups' on Google
- School parent associations
- Neighbourhood babysitting co-ops
Healthcare
Reviewed Apr 2026
Reviewed Apr 2026
- Serious cases may need Medevac to Jakarta or Singapore — read policy fine print
- Dengue happens — mosquito routines matter for kids
- Dental tourism is big — still check sterilisation standards
- Pharmacies stock western brands in tourist zones
- Bali belly dehydration hits fast with toddlers — know the nearest IV clinic
BIMC, Siloam, and SOS clinics anchor private care in the south — confirm cashless agreements with your insurer.
Safety
- Lock villas — opportunistic bag grabs happen in busy strips
- Helmet laws exist — police checkpoints fine tourists
- Monkey interactions in Ubud — supervise snacks with kids
- Ceremonial traffic can block roads — plan school-run buffers
- Earthquake and tsunami awareness — know hotel evacuation routes
FAQ
Is Bali good for families?
Yes when you pick the right coast or hill pocket for schools and commute — traffic and visa admin are the main frictions.
How much does a family typically need per month here?
Roughly $4,000–$6,500/month all-in for many international-school households — villas and tuition swing it.
Is housing hard to find here?
Villas turn over fast in Canggu and Berawa — start 6–8 weeks ahead.
Do children need international school here, or can local schools work?
Bahasa-first local schools are tough without fluency — most expat families use international or bilingual tracks in the south.
Is healthcare easy to access as a newcomer?
Private hospitals in Denpasar and the south are workable — use travel cover until permits stabilise.
Do you need a car in Bali?
Many families use cars with drivers for school; scooters dominate but are risky with small kids.
How difficult is the paperwork and bureaucracy after moving?
Visa extensions and school letters eat time — hire reputable help if you can.
What usually surprises families after arrival?
How long narrow roads take in rain — test school runs in both seasons.
Sources
Official government, institutional, and public sources.
Community
Expat groups and community forums. Use the search buttons below to find them.
Search 'Bali Expat Families' on Google — island life advice and school recommendations
Search: “Bali Expat Families”Search on Google